Teen Issue Increasing: Cyber-Bulllying

Many parents are unaware of the stress and emotional issues their teens may be facing when it comes to cyber-bullying.

Basically cyber-bullying is bullying that happens online or via other high-tech devices prevalent in teens lives today. Common tactics include photos, gossip, humiliation, and slander.

Teens text more than talk, use social sites such as MySpace and FaceBook, e-mail, talk in chat rooms and blogs which increases the probability of being cyber-bullied. The New York Times states,

Research indicates that as many as 75 percent of teens have been bullied online, but only one in 10 have reported the problem to parents or other adults, a new study shows.

Because teens are not talking to others about the bullying, they tend to think they are the only ones on the receiving end of such attacks. Many feel the need to deal with the problem alone and are missing the help they need to deal with such emotionally charged feelings.

Communication and education is key to helping your teen avoid being bullied online. If they are educated and find themselves being victimized by a cyber-bully, they will most likely talk to someone about it and be equipped with the tools necessary to handle the issue without it destroying them emotionally.